Thames Coastguard received reports from Essex Police that the owner of a boat moored in Wrabness on the River Stour had encountered the intruders at around 2.20am.

The offenders, suspected of attempted breaking and entering, made off in a dory towards Harwich after being challenged by the owner. Police searched the shoreline, but no trace was found of the suspects.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Officers carried out a search of Wrabness, Manningtree, at around 3am on Saturday, June 14, following reports from a boat owner who was woken by two men boarding his boat.

“When challenge, one of the men claimed he was checking boats in the area as his boat had been broken into.

“Officer attended but could not see anything suspicious and nothing has been reported stolen.”

• Later that day, at around 6pm, Coastguard crews in Clacton, accompanied by the RNLI inshore lifeboat, received reports of a jet-ski towing an inflatable with four people aboard. The jet-ski’s propellor had reportedly been “fouled” by the propellor.

The four people and the jet ski were recovered and taken to the shore at Brightlingsea.